David Jón Fuller, writer

Ratt: Infestation (Roadrunner/Loud & Proud)

Ratt has never been “cool,” but if you were in junior high in the mid-1980s, you can probably remember when they were “awesome.” After a couple of decades in the musical wilderness, the band — original members Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Bobby Blotzer, at least — returns with a new slab of glam metal that could have come right out of 1986.

Pearcy’s trademark gravelly whine/growl is still in fine form on melodic thumpers like “Best of Me” and “Take Me Home.” “As Good As It Gets” shows a bit of that old Ratt swagger, opening track “Eat Me Up Alive” is hyper, head-banging stuff, and “Look Out Below” slithers with a bluesy groove that’ll remind old-school fans of “Way Cool Jr.”

They’re not all gems, of course, but chances are your inner headbanger will think it’s awesome. 3 stars

— David Fuller

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 1, 2010 C4